Calling PHP function using JQuery .ajax() -

i'm trying use php function read server directory images. images need passed jquery using .ajax() use in slideshow. i'm using php function hoping simplify adding/removing images user. basically, they'd have add or remove images directory modify slideshow , not edit code.

i'm struggling jquery function return i'm expecting. it's been while since i've done php may overlooking someone. here's php code:

<?php     $path = "./"; while (false !== ($file = readdir($handle)))     {         if ($file != '.' && $file != '..')             echo "<img src=\"" . $path.$file. " alt=\"" . $file . "\>";         {     } ?> 

here's readimages jquery function:

function readimages() {     $.ajax({         type: "post",         url: "getimages.php",         datatype: "html",         success: function(imagepath){             $(".slideshow").html(imagepath);             }     }); 

}

what i'm trying php return html formatted tag file name added. jquery adds returned tag html code.

so far... it's returning "; { } ?>

any ideas i'm doing wrong?

the main issue borken if structure rob olmos pointed out. switch directory iterator instead of readfile if youre using php5.

<?php     $path = "./";     $dir = new directoryiterator(realpath($path));     $img = '<img src="%s" alt="%s" />';      foreach($dir $file){       if(!$dir->isdot() && 0 !== strpos('.', $file->getfilename()) && !$file->isdir()){         $filepath = $path . $file->getfilename();         echo sprintf($img, $filepath, $filepath);       }     } ?>